Principal Legal Officer X2

**Full Time, temporary employment opportunities**:

- **Based in Parramatta CBD with hybrid and flexible work option, regional locations considered**:

- **Remuneration of $148,885 to $152,021 plus super & leave loading**

**About the Department of Education**

The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. For more information, please visit NSW Department of Education.

**About the Legal Services Directorate**

Legal Services supports schools, and regional and state corporate offices to navigate the law to put students at the centre of decision-making.

Our high-performing legal team works collaboratively across the organisation, partnering to provide critical legal advice. We are a trusted and credible partner, delivering excellent service and promoting community confidence in public education. Our legal advice and expertise builds organisational capabilities so that every student, every teacher, every leader and every school can improve, every year.

Legal practice areas include commercial, property, contracts, liability, discrimination, privacy, employment, attendance, civil, criminal and administrative law, and general litigation.

**About the opportunities**
- **Early Years Commitment (project)**

We’re looking to recruit a Principal Legal Officer for up to four years to support the Department deliver on the NSW Government’s historic new investment in children, families and the economic future by transforming early childhood education and care in NSW. This is an exciting opportunity to lead change for the future for children and families across the state. We want a passionate and driven team-player to lead the legal work and manage two Senior Legal Officers. This project team will partner with clients on delivery of this ambitious program, which includes:

- policy development
- service design
- commissioning programs and
- services
- **Commercial (1-year role - maternity leave backfill)**

The Commercial and Schools Infrastructure NSW (**_SINSW_**) team provide general commercial support and advice to schools and business units on a vast range of commercial matters, including drafting, negotiating and advising on a wide range of contracts, funding arrangements, and assisting with intellectual property and commercial disputes. We also draft agreements with other government agencies and various external providers to support priority projects, reform initiatives and collaborative programs that span the complete education life cycle (pre-school to vocational and higher education).

The team also provides property and construction legal services to assist SINSW to build and maintain our schools, operate OSCH, canteens and uniform shops and share school space with the community during school holidays. This includes drafting and advising on leases and licences, easements and construction contracts.
- **Talent pool**

We will create a talent pool to fill current and future temporary and permanent vacancies.

**About You**

You are a highly experienced solicitor who:

- **can manage yourself**, showing drive and motivation, with an ability to self-reflect and commit to learning
- **communicates effectively** and clearly, actively listening to others and responding with understanding and respect
- **works collaboratively** with others, valuing their contribution
- **delivers results**, through the efficient use of resources and a commitment to quality outcomes
- **can develop practical solutions** by analysing and considering the broader context
- **understands technology** and uses available technologies to maximise efficiencies and effectiveness
- **can manage and develop people**, motivate staff, and develop capability and potential in others
- **optimises business outcomes** by managing people and resources effectively, to achieve public value.

For further information please view the role description.

**Qualifications, experience and knowledge**

Your professional credentials, experience and expertise should include:

- legal qualifications and a current unrestricted NSW legal practising certificate
- experience as a solicitor/advocate
- knowledge and experience in the areas of law that impact the NSW Department of Education
- the ability to provide quality independent legal advice and manage legal risk
- complementary capabilities in statutory interpretation, legal research, legal drafting, prosecution and advocacy
- knowledge of and a commitment to the department’s Aboriginal education policies.

**Benefits**

With nearly 100,000 people working all over NSW, the Department of Education isn’t like any other workplace. You can customise your career track and experience benefits including:

- **the opportunity to make a real difference**, doing important work in a varied, rewarding career in which you can make the most of your legal expertise across a